Pavlos Bakoyannis, ‘Voice of Reconciliation’, Remembered 28 Years After Assassination

The family of slain politician Pavlos Bakoyannis, marked the 28th anniversary of his assassination, with appeals to national reconciliation.

His widow; prominent New Democracy politician, Dora Bakoyannis, wrote on Facebook:

“28 years have passed. It was also a Tuesday. Yet your battle against division, intolerance and fanaticism continues. ”

Leader of New Democracy Kyriakos Mitsotakis; Bakoyannis’ brother-in-law, wrote on Twitter that “His legacy of national reconciliation is more relevant than ever. We are missing you”.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on the morning of September 26, 1989, Pavlos Bakoyannis was shot and killed at the front entrance of his office, by members of the terrorist group November 17 (N17).

News of his assassination sent shock waves through the Greek society, as the liberal politician was a mild voice that called for unity on the political front. His characteristic phrase was: “We can disagree because we can co-exist.”

He was also well-known for his broadcasts against the Greek military dictatorship of 1967-1974, on Bayerische Rundfunk radio.

He was the first member of Parliament to be killed since 1963, when Gregoris Lambrakis was run down by a motorcyclist apparently belonging to a right-wing group, and became the subject of the film “Z”.

Born on February 10, 1935, Pavlos Bakoyannis was the eldest son of Father Kostas and Irene Bakoyannis. He studied political science at Panteion University, and continued his post-graduate studies, also in political science, in Germany, where he received a doctorate for his work.

He particularly loved his homeland in Evrytania. European Union funding for a program in Evrytania that he had promoted, was approved on the day he died and his family home in Velota, Karpenisi, has since been turned into a museum.

The Democracy Museum, in the house where he was born and raised, includes a library and photographs that pay homage to his life.

Thousands attended his funeral in Karpenisi on September 29, 1989, in what became a demonstration against terrorism in Greece.